Telangana Elections 2023: YSR Telangana Party bows out of polls, extends support to Congress

financialexpress.com:

The YSR Telangana Party (YSRTP) has announced its decision not to participate in the forthcoming November 30 assembly elections within the state. The party, led by Y S Sharmila, daughter of the late Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy of undivided Andhra Pradesh, has chosen to support the opposition Congress party.

Sharmila, addressing the media, declared her party’s support to the Congress as a measure to put an end to what she described as the “corrupt and anti-people rule” under the leadership of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s BRS party.

Sharmila said that the decision was aimed at ensuring that there is no split in the anti-government vote, especially at a time when there is a possibility of a change in the state’s governance.

Sharmila said she has deep respect for Congress leaders and activists, highlighting her commitment to preventing any dilution of Congress votes that could accidently benefit the ruling BRS.

“After so many years, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s ‘padayatra’ showed results in Karnataka. At the time when it will show its results in Telangana, we have no intention of hurting the Congress.” The Congress leaders are not outsiders to her, she added.

The YSRTP president acknowledged the affection displayed by Congress top leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi towards her and her late father. “We have no intention to hurt the Congress party or its leaders,” she said.

Sharmila had previously engaged in discussions with the Congress high command regarding a possible merger or pre-poll alliance, although these negotiations did not come to fulfilment

(With inputs from PTI)